THE 1992 CAMPAIGN

THE 1992 CAMPAIGN; Clinton Wins in Two Primaries

Published: May 14, 1992

With decisive victories in the Nebraska and West Virginia primaries on Tuesday, Gov. Bill Clinton moved closer to the Democratic Presidential nomination, picking up 48 more delegates. The Arkansas Governor now has 81 percent of the 2,145 delegates needed to secure the nomination.

Mr. Clinton defeated former Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. of California in Nebraska by better than a 2 to 1 ratio and in West Virginia with nearly three-fourths of the vote.

In the Republican primaries, President Bush, who has already clinched the nomination, overwhelmed Patrick J. Buchanan, the conservative commentator, with more than 80 percent of the vote in both states.

Primaries are scheduled in Oregon on Tuesday and in Arkansas and Kentucky on May 26. But for the Clinton campaign, the significant date is June 2, when six states hold the final Presidential primaries of the year. The big prize is California, where 348 delegates are at stake. Other states with primaries that day are New Jersey, Ohio, Alabama, New Mexico and Montana.

Chart: "The Democratic Delegate Tally" Current breakdown of Presidential preference of delegates by the Democratic National Convention as compiled by The New York Times. Total delegate votes: 4,288. Delegates needed to win nomination: 2,145 Delegates to be chosen in remaining primaries: 835 Clinton: 1,746 (Tuesday's primaries: 48)+ Uncommitted: 832 Tsongas: 522 Brown : 353 (Tuesday's primaries: 8) +Clinton needs 399 more delegates for the nomination. Preferences are based on state laws, party rules and projections from early results in states where there were caucuses. The tally includes preferences of superdelegates who are members of Congress, Democratic National Committee members, governors and former elected officials.